Government Affairs

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is active in government at the local, state and federal levels. In times of tough budgets, the Chamber has been able to get funding for certain items that help our members conduct their businesses. The Chamber is dedicated to making sure laws passed do not negatively affect our members or the Columbia business community. Our mission is to make Columbia an even better place to live, learn, work and play.

Government Affairs Documents

2020 Legislative Agenda Booklet

2020 Local Agenda Card

Government Affairs News

What does the U.S. Census do?

The 2020 Census will be here before we know it. Its results will impact our community in a variety of ways. The census is conducted every ten years. The census is used to get a broader sense of the population in general. This information then is used to calculate the number of seats that each … Continued

Lunch with a Leader: Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe

Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe joined the Columbia Chamber of Commerce at The State Historical Society of Missouri for the November installment of our Lunch with a Leader series. Lunch with a Leader is a chance for our community to get face to face with our civic leaders, an opportunity that can be rare with our overhauled … Continued

Chamber Excited About Newly Named Columbia City Manager

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is excited with the announcement that Interim City Manager John Glascock was chosen to be Columbia's next City Manager.

Leadership Columbia Learns About Media, Social Services, Development And Industry and State Government

The Leadership Columbia 2019 class has been busy meeting in the spring months with sessions focusing on Media, Social Services, Development & Industry, and State Government.

Columbia Business Community Identifies Desired Attributes for Next Columbia City Manager

The Columbia business community has identified its top five attributes desired in Columbia’s next city manager. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey that was sent to 1,632 business professionals and Chamber members in the region. The survey asked respondents to rank 10 attributes of a City Manager in order from most to least … Continued

Columbia Chamber of Commerce Reveals Plans to Put Focus on Columbia Business Community in Upcoming Legislative Session

The positions of the Chamber will keep the importance of Columbia/Boone County business issues in the forefront with lawmakers and continue to improve the business climate in the city and region.

Chamber Outlines Priorities to Strengthen Business Community With 2019 Local Agenda

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce released its 2019 Local Agenda and priorities for the City of Columbia and Boone County. The policies addressed in the agenda were strategically chosen based off a combination of the Chamber’s Strategic Plan and feedback from the business community. The Chamber’s priorities represent and advocate for what Columbia’s citizens and … Continued

Columbia Chamber of Commerce Endorses Water Bond

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce endorsed Proposition 1, the water bond. Proposition 1 will be on the Primary Election ballot on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. The bond proposal will fund nearly $43 million worth of projects to modernize the city’s water treatment systems. These upgrades will include additional reliability and safety elements. To finance the … Continued

Chamber Addresses City Council Concerns About the Lack of Transparency and Not Supporting The Outcomes of Ballot Measures

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce addressed the Columbia City Council at its July 16, 2018 meeting regarding its lack of transparency and not supporting the outcomes of voter-approved ballot measures. Past chairman, David Nivens, was granted time to speak during the meeting’s scheduled public comment section. Nivens focused on the Chamber’s and business community’s concerns … Continued

Columbia Chamber of Commerce Concerned About the Lack of Advancement With Voter Approved Projects

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is concerned with the Columbia City Council’s lack to advance voter-approved projects forward. In 2017, 86.13 percent of the 1670 citizens polled by the Chamber said it is important to complete infrastructure projects approved by voters. At that time, the Chamber urged council members to think about what’s best for … Continued

Chamber Supports Federal Legislation to Require President to Submit Tariff Raises to Congress

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce has signed onto a national letter of support for legislation by U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). The bill would require the President to submit to Congress any proposal to raise tariffs in the interest of national security. The Chamber is one of more than 200 national associations and state and … Continued

Chamber Endorses Missouri’s Plan to Fund Transportation Systems

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce endorsed the ballot measure aimed to increase funding for the state’s crumbling transportation system. The plan would raise the state gasoline tax by 2.5 cents each year for the next four years until it is fully implemented. The Proposition has been placed on the November ballot. If passed and once … Continued